I'm still in disbelief. Best live metal experience of my entire life.
I got to see two of my all time favorite bands in one night. Unbelievable. First the venue. Not bad. Used to be a laundromat. Hot as a motherfucker, just ceiling fans running. Acoustics nonexistent but the PA worked pretty well for all the groups. That really surprised the hell out of me. They didn't serve alcohol or allow smoking inside which was a welcome change. Merchandise tables were all set up with plenty of stuff except for some reason the only Necro shirts they had were small, and girl's tees.....they'd sold out of everything else!!!! I get there late as I'd had a business appointment that night. Only missed the first no name band. But thank the stars I made it for the second act!!!!!! Always been a huge fan of Alarum since 'Eventuality' came out. That album is a fantastic listening experience in itself, but to hear the real thing blasted away not ten feet in front of you is a totally different experience. Mark, the bassist had this awesome vintage Pestilence shirt on...not to mention the dude was playing a six stringer...And I mean fucking wail!!!!!!!! He's much more expressive with his vocals onstage than in the studio...hard to explain, like the studio voc's were compressed. Again you've got to see it to understand. They've totally got their own brand of complex jazz-metal that is completely mindblowing. I talked to both Mark and the guitarist after the show. They told me they had about 25 new songs in the working process and they should have them recorded and out by early next year. Bought a killer shirt and their first album and wished them well.
Third band was Neuraxis, (Canadian?) Well played grind. I wasn't familiar enough with their material to know what the hell was going on. Think I'd definitely will buy a cd...would have got one that night but I'd spent all my cash on Alarum.
Arsis, the 4th group up, I found to be pretty boring. I mean they were good at what they were doing and the singer/guitarist pulled off some amazingly ripping solos but....something was lacking. Perhaps dynamics, I mean its like this new scandanavian thrash started by At The Gates where the tempo and basic rhythm is the fucking same time for each song. Dudes, change it up a bit eh? WTF? I was in the minority though cause the crowd really loved them. In fact the singer commented how you'd find the better metal crowd in a smaller town sometimes...
And let me tell you......these bands will not forget Augusta. I mean these bastards went apeshit for each band's set...A great pit, crowdsurfing...there was even a dude jumping from the PA into the kids..who luckily for his ass found some arms. Very hard concrete floor. I'd say atleast 200-300 people showed up. Hopefully both band and venue made $$$$....I was really proud of my southeastern metal brethern...(and a couple of fine young ladies)....
Cattle Decap were next. Singer's histronics were quite amusing. He did this scream which was unusual. To make the sound he'd shoot his tongue out the left side of his mouth and hold it. Also spit on himself a lot. Guitarist was excellent. Napalm Death are obviously a HUGE influence. I hear they're vegans which makes the rather visceral name make more sense.

NECROPHAGIST. First let me say I was astounded to see how young both the drummer and new guitarist are...One looks 12, the other maybe 15. Like they should have been home eating ice cream and playing nintendo instead of up performing the most INTENSE EXCITING DEATH METAL in existence today. Muhammad finally comes out and the crowd roars. The guy is pretty short. Playing this beautiful black BC Rich. When they opened up let me tell you about the crowd action. I was within a foot of the stage with one dude in front of me and Muhammad standing over us. All the bastards push toward the front as soon as the riffs begin!!! And that's the way it was for the next hour...Everybody slammed up against each other and me really wishing it was a girl instead of a young smelly punk I was rammed up against........But hey, welcome to the world of metal. I think the band was pretty surprised by how crazy the crowd was for the band. Fists were pumping, the pit was going...the entire set. It was pure havoc...in almost a transcendant way...I was completely drenched in sweat...on almost another planet emotionally. Because of the crowd crush I had to stand on one foot the whole time. But I didn't even notice...the experience of songs like the mighty Extreme Unction and my favorite Fermented Offal Discharge...did exactly what great art is supposed to do: provide an escape from the world.

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Originally posted by Mezcalhead:

They didn't serve alcohol or allow smoking inside which was a welcome change.

I get there late as I'd had a business appointment that night.

...really wishing it was a girl instead of a young smelly punk I was rammed up against........

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quote:

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(...)they should have been home eating ice cream and playing nintendo instead of up performing the most INTENSE EXCITING DEATH METAL in existence today.

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Thanks for the write-up Mez.

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Not my photo......

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Bassist's who use their digits are cool. And they are even cooler with a headstock in their head.

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Originally posted by Mezcalhead:
Hey Vman......Mark does use his fingers

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Seems almost all the best players use their natural picks...thanks for the info!

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Thought I was lying about that crowd? Look at those bastards going crazy!!! It ends halfway cause the guy probably got knocked down....

How many in the audience?

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